Aremu blasts Ayuba over NLC crisis

Vice President, Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), Issa Aremu, has described the factional leader of the NLC Ayuba Wabba as ‘self-acclaimed president’ and warned Nigerians to beware of ‘sweetheart unionists’ and ‘election riggers’ masquerading as leaders of NLC.

Ayuba Wabba had described both Joe Ajaero and Issa Aremu as “serial blackmailers” and “criminal impersonators”, fol- lowing the fallout of the NLC election.

In a statement made avail- able to journalists at the weekend, Aremu said the recent statement by Wabba that the Joe Ajaero led NLC do not speak for the Congress was a silly, unprovoked and prejudiced statement.

“After he had dragged af- filiate union members to court over NLC delegates’ election, Ayuba in utter disregard of court process criminally de- clare legitimate union lead- ers imposters. He certainly wanted to once again rig the court process as he criminally rigged the failed 11th delegates Conference.

“We hereby assure all our members and progressive allies in civil society that we are not distracted by sponsored attack to silence the voices of the or- ganized labour. Ayuba Wabba’s dubious statement came on the heel of the legitimate popu- lar demand of the NLC that legislators reduce their pay to reflect the national mood for sacrifices. It is therefore self- evident that so-called President of NLC, Ayuba Wabba has once again put the NLC at the service of some government officials (which put them in office in the first instance). Instead of the working people who pay union dues to the NLC”, he said in the statement.

He said: “Nigerians must know the difference between genuine labour leaders and labour dealers. What is at stake today in Nigeria is non-payment of legitimate earnings of work- ers in a number of states and some federal establishment and the indulgences of some elected officials that have collapsed the economy as rightly acknowledged by President Muhammadu Buhari. Genuine trade unionists and patriots are right to call on all elected officials at federal and states levels to face up to the challenge of governance. Only counterfeit trading unionists (not trade unionists) such as Ayuba Wabba would ‘disclaim’ genuine voices of the working people of Nigeria”.

He said the NLC commends the leadership of the National Assembly, in particular the Senate for setting up 18-member committee to review legislators’ pay in line with economic realities of the country as well as draw up legislative agenda.

“With this singular legislative act, the 8th National Assem- bly has shown a commendable sensitivity in listening to the aspirations and concern of Nige- rians as articulated by the NLC”.

According to him, areas beg- ging for critical legislations are petroleum industry bill (PIB), industry patronage bill, power sector reforms and other extant laws to reposition critical government parastatals such as Nigeria Railway Corporation (NRC), Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) among others.

“We also commend Presi- dent Muhammadu Buhari for redirecting the energy of the military from internal to ex- ternal security challenge.  The removal of the military on the roads will facilitate movement of goods and people.  Economic security of citizens is as impor- tant as the physical security. The Inspector General of Police, Solomon Arase must however make sure his men and women do not turn check points to ex- tortion centre”, he said.